Andy Burnham has been warned Labour needs to “stop piling costs” on road users as price hikes have treated motorists like “cash cows”. Rachel Reeves and Sir Keir Starmer hammered drivers with a range of increased fees while in office, with the cost of vehicle ownership soaring.
VED fees more than doubled
Under their watch, first-year Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) fees more than doubled in a blow for those securing the keys to brand new models. Over the past couple of years, the cost of taxing the most polluting vehicles increased from £2,745 to £5,490 in 2025, followed by another £200 rise earlier this year.
Reeves also came under fire for her handling of the fuel crisis earlier this year, with the Chancellor refusing to intervene as petrol and diesel prices soared. Ms Reeves eventually confirmed that fuel duty rates would remain frozen, with a planned hike axed. But the Chancellor didn’t introduce a temporary reduction in VAT on fuel costs despite calls from many in the industry.
Motoring manifesto for new PM
As part of a new motoring manifesto for new PM Burnham to take on board, experts at Auto Express have warned treating drivers more fairly was a critical request.
Tom Jervis, consumer writer at Auto Express, told Express.co.uk: “The Government has a nasty habit of doing things ‘to’ motorists and not ‘for’ them. Motorists are already paying heavily through VAT, VED, fuel duty, insurance taxes, tolls and parking charges and enough is enough.
“The new Prime Minister needs to get the public onside and stop piling more costs onto the near-80 per cent of households that own a car.”
Positive changes and upcoming challenges
Mr Burnham has already made some positive changes, cutting VAT on domestic electricity supply and reducing bus pass fees. However, he faces a stern test, with independent garages now calling for an increase in MOT testing fees which could see bills rise by as much as £40. This could be a hammer blow to cash-strapped road users already struggling to keep their cars on the road.
Recent data from Turo's Annual Car Ownership Index revealed that as many as one quarter of British drivers (23%) are looking to ditch their cars within five years as they struggle to deal with the cost of motoring.
